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Category Archives: Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

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Mr Paul Banwell, Consultant Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon is delighted to be able to offer an exciting new treatment for hair restoration in his Harley Street practice, London. Mr Banwell is the first in the UK to offer the commercially-available Kerastem system which combines advanced Pure Graft fat transfer techniques alongside cutting edge stem cell technology.

The Kerastem system has been shown to prevent hair loss and stimulates new hair growth in clinical research studies. This hair restoration treatment is performed as a day case for both male and female patients with early/mild hair loss. It is a one-off single procedure which involves liposuction and fat transfer to the scalp using the innovative Puregraft system followed by state of the art Kerastem processing technology & injection of stem cells. The novel finding that injection of mature fat cells and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) into the scalp helps stimulate hair follicles and allows natural growth of hair with minimal downtime and no restriction of activities in the post-procedure phase is an exciting advance in hair restoration techniques. It provides an exciting treatment option for those not suitable for hair transplant techniques and can be used in combination with medical treatments. For further information please contact The Banwell Clinic on 01342 330302 or email help@paulebanwell.com Consultations in Kent, Sussex and London. Treatments take place in our luxurious Harley Street setting.

After reports of ‘plumping parties’ in the United States, Mr Banwell notes the latest on an American woman who was addicted to injections to her buttocks.

“I always recommend that my patients do a thorough check of their practitioner prior to procedure” says Mr Banwell. “Patients deserve to know they are getting the best quality product and should not be afraid to ask what kind of qualifications their injector has.”

Mr Banwell is a member of BAAPS and BAPRAS and consults in London and Southeast England. For more information on Dermal Fillers and Cosmetic Surgery, please contact 0845 2600 261.

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Mother-of-two, who spent $15,000 on butt injections, lifts lid on the secret world of black market cosmetic procedures – By Tamara Abraham

A woman who spent approximately $15,000 on illegal butt and hip injections has shed light on the secretive world of black market cosmetic procedures in a new book.
In a raw and honest account, Vanity Wonder, 30, a mother-of-two from America’s Midwest, has revealed how she became addicted to silicone shots to increase the size of her behind.
Shot Girls sees her detail her own experiences of seeking out and having the injections, and how she became an assistant to a black market practitioner, who treated women as varied as a 17-year-old brought in by her proud mother and even a senior in her seventies with bifocals and false teeth.
With nurses, police officers and gospel singers also among the clients, many were ‘people who know this is wrong,’ Vanity told MailOnline.
She says the main reason she decided to write the book was because she wanted to tell her own story, but she was also keen to clarify many of the misconceptions about a secretive world.
‘So many people tell so many lies about the women who get injections,’ she explained. ‘It’s such a secretive thing. I decided to tell people rather than letting them just guess.’
Discussing the reasons women choose to undergo the procedure on the black market in the first place, risking infection and even death, she said it is not, as many people seem to believe, because they are trying to please a man, or are deeply depressed.
‘It’s not what people think,’ she said. ‘There’s no common reason… Some girls get it done only because everyone else is. There’s a lot of reasons.
‘It’s not even because they didn’t already have a butt. They look in the mirror and they don’t like what they see. They want the image they see in the mirror to match the image they have of themselves in their head.’
Dr John Martin, who treated one of the alleged victims of ‘fake doctor’ Oneal Ron Morris, says medical silicone, used to enhance buttocks, cheeks, chins and the like is very expensive and must be administered in small quantities.
Amateurs will sometimes use industrial substitutes, he said, that can be toxic and, when used in large quantities, can settle in areas creating grotesque results.
He said that many would be shocked at the type of people who sign up for such procedures.
‘A surprising number of educated people who should know better – nurses, etc – use back room treatments,’ he told Miami television station CBS4.
When asked if the desire for a large behind could be described as a trend, Vanity agreed, adding that where there was a trend, there would be people prepared to cash in on it.
‘People are taking advantage of it,’ she said. ‘But instead of paying $14,000 for the doctor, somebody on the street has created a way for women to get a butt at a cheaper price point.’
Indeed, she noticed this shift take place over the course of her own time getting black market butt injections.
‘I started in 2006 – this is when everything was hush, hush, hush. You had to search to find this stuff,’ she recalled. ‘Now anyone on the corner will inject you with whatever they buy at the Kwik-E-Mart or at the gas station.’
Vanity is, of course, referring to stories that have flooded the news in recent months, of deaths after women were injected with Fix-A-Flat tyre sealant and even cement.
She admits that her own first experience with butt shots could have been just as dangerous, as she had no idea what she was injected with – and still doubts the answer she was given.
‘The first two times, I was injected by a lady… when we finally asked her [what we were being injected with], she said soybean oil. So my first two times I had no idea what I was being injected with.
‘All the rest were done by [a different] lady, and it was medical grade silicone.’
She says the difference in the two substances was huge. The silicone, she says, is ‘a lot more moveable and jello-like. The ‘soybean oil’ made the treated areas ‘stiff and hard’.
Describing her butt now, Vanity said: ‘Because that original work has been covered so many times, it’s all jiggly and very moveable. A lot of people are amazed.’
Though Shot Girls serves as a warning to women who may be tempted by the low cost and fast results of black market injections, Vanity admits many still ask her where she can get them.
‘The book review from customers has been 95per cent positive. It is those who haven’t who are critical.’
But though some readers admit that they thought about getting black market butt injections, but now definitely won’t, others remain tempted.
‘Women are still begging me, “Please tell me where to get them from!”‘ Vanity admits. ‘They are definitely chasing this’.
‘That’s the reason why women are dying. They are so thirsty for these, they go to whoever they can find. Then people want to exploit this and that’s where the problems come in.’
She admits she stopped when she was nearly sent to jail, and she realised that if anything were to happen to her, she would not be around to take care of her sons. It was a reality check that cut her addiction short.
When looking in the mirror now, she says she does not feel dissatisfied with her body.
‘It’s not that I feel happy, but I look in the mirror and I love who I am,’ she explained. ‘I didn’t go to jail, I have my arms and legs. I didn’t die because of the dumb crap that I did.
‘I guess I do feel happy. I’m just so thankful that I’m here in one piece, and that I’m able to tell people to stop on this path, because somebody’s going to die.’

Plastic surgery considered a health benefit in Brazil – ASAPS 17 April 2012

While plastic surgery is considered a luxury in America, in Brazil it’s considered a right.
A recent Associated Press report in the Daily News revealed that thousands of the country’s poor have undergone plastic surgery procedures such as Botox injections, laser hair removal, chemical peels and laser treatments free of charge.
According to the AP, more than 220 clinics throughout the country offer free or discounted plastic surgery to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it. The reason – these procedures help boost self-esteem and enable patients to feel more confident about themselves.
“What’s a wrinkle? Something minor, right? Something with precious little importance,” a Rio de Janeiro-based plastic surgeon, told the AP. “But when we treat the wrinkle, that unimportant little thing, we’re actually treating something very important: The patient’s self esteem.”
Dr. Ivo Pitanguy, the “philosopher of plastic surgery” in Brazil founded the first surgical center to treat the poor, mainly focusing on burn victims and those with deformities, but also offered discounted cosmetic surgery. Now, the growing numbers of hospitals and clinics that offer these services have long lines and waiting lists. Once a surgery is approved by a physician, patients might wait years to undergo their desired procedure.
And while the cosmetic procedures are beneficial to those undergoing them, it can also be argued that there’s a benefit for the providers as well, as they allow young doctors to gain experience.
Brazil, a common destination for medical tourists seeking discounted plastic surgery procedures, is the world’s top plastic surgery provider, with the United States coming in second place.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), more than 9.1 million plastic surgery procedures were performed in the US in 2011. The most common cosmetic surgeries included liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, cosmetic eyelid surgery and breast lifts. The most common nonsurgical procedures included botulinum toxin type A injections, hyaluronic acid injections, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion and laser treatments.

As concerned women with PIP implants come forward for reassurance and treatment the Department of Health (DH) continue to investigate the scandal.

Recent statistics from the Department of Health have revealed to date 4,872 referrals have been received by the NHS from patients who had their initial surgery at a private clinic. 280 of these referrals were received last week by 120 trusts.

So far 2,393 scans have been undertaken, leading to 252 decisions for explants to take place.

It was confirmed earlier in the year; patients who received PIP implants on the NHS will be contacted and offered removal and replacement procedures. The NHS has also agreed to help women who have been rejected by their initial private clinic by removing the faulty implants; but they are unable to replace them.

The DoH announced today the NHS will replace PIP breast implants for private patients if their reason for having implants was part of a reconstruction following breast cancer.

The ‘NHS offer’ to private patients with PIP implants varies depending on the circumstances of each patient, not all women will be advised to have their implants removed at this time, some women will simply want reassurance. 1,303 women have completed their NHS offer, 119 of these were completed last week.

The latest estimate of the number of women with NHS PIP implants in place is 748. So far 743 women have been contacted by the NHS and 112 decisions have been made to replace the implants. 37 scans have been recorded and 30 women have completed their NHS offer.

SaferCosmeticSurgery would like to reiterate the advice from the Department of Health and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS):

All patients are advised that they should be aware of the make of their implants. Those patients unsure of these details are advised to contact their surgeon/provider. Patients are advised that BAAPS agree with the DoH expectation that patients should not be charged to access their notes. All NHS patients who have a PIP implant will be contacted by their hospital.

Signs and symptoms of rupture/leak/inflammation in one or both breasts may include:

– Lumpiness of the breast
– Lumpiness/ swelling of the regional lymph nodes in the underarms and rarely in the neck
– Change in shape and size of the breast
– Redness of the skin
– Tenderness of the breast and or the lymph glands in the underarms
– Swelling of the breast
– Firmness of the breast
– Pain
– Hyper sensitivity

The advice to patients is that those who experience signs or symptoms of rupture or irritation should seek advice earlier. Those who do not have complaints but have concerns and wish to discuss the risks and benefits of implant exchange should also seek advice at some stage.

Mr Banwell notes the BBC article on patients who are being coerced in to additional surgery. Mr Banwell will be happy to see you for a no-pressure and honest consultation in London, East Sussex, West Sussex or Kent for PIP removal.

Mr Banwell is happy to be attending the Haywards Heath Nuffield Hospital once per month. This is our most recent addition to Mr Banwell’s consulting space where he will be available to see new patients for Breast Enlargement, Breast Reduction, Labiaplasty and Liposuction.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports an increase in cosmetic surgery from 2010. Breast Augmentation has increased 4% and Liposuction has increased to 207,000 procedures in 2011. Mr Banwell consults in Tunbridge Wells and Haywards Heath, specialising in breast surgery and body contouring.

A study by the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery has found surgery turns back the clock on average 7 years of ageing.

The aim was to help patients considering surgery to have clearer expectations of what can be achieved before going under the knife. The study was lead by Dr Nitin Chauhan a plastic surgeon at the University of Toronto.

Before and after photos of 53 women and 7 men all aged 60 were shown to 40 first year medical students. They were asked to estimate the ages of the patients before their surgery and then afterwards.

The patients had undergone a variety of facial cosmetic surgery, ranging from one to three procedures; 22 had a face and neck lift, 17 had a face and neck lift as well as an eyelid lift and a further 22 had a face and neck lift, eyelid lift and brow lift.

According to the study, patients’ ages were reduced on average by 5 to 7 years following one procedure such as a face lift or neck lift. Patients who went under the knife for two facial procedures were estimated 7.5 years younger, in comparison; patients who had three procedures were thought to be 8.4 years younger.

Other experts in the field including Dr Garry Brody, professor of plastic surgery at the University of Southern California, warned patients to remain realistic about what surgery can achieve for them personally.

He says he has done surgical procedures on other family members too, including Brittani’s sister Charm, now 22, who had surgery on her belly button at the age of ten, to turn her ‘outie’ into an ‘innie’.

The owner of a French breast implant maker at the centre of a safety scare has been arrested in southern France.

Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) founder Jean-Claude Mas, 72, was held at his home in Six-Fours-les-Plages, police sources told reporters.

In 2010, France banned PIP implants made with low-grade industrial silicone, amid fears they could rupture and leak.

Up to 400,000 women in 65 countries are believed to have been given implants.

Mr Mas remains at his home while police search it – as required by French law.

He is believed to have been detained as part of a judicial investigation started in December into manslaughter and involuntary injuries.

A second PIP executive, former chief financial officer Claude Couty, has also been arrested

Mr Mas has been under investigation since he revealed in a police interview last year that PIP ordered employees to hide the unauthorised silicone when inspectors visited its factory.

He told police that PIP had deceived European safety inspectors for 13 years.

But he has insisted they posed no threat to health and attacked the French authorities for offering to pay for their removal because it put women through a “surgery risk”.

What are the risks?

The silicone inside the implants is not medical grade – but was intended for use in mattresses

Tests have not shown any increased risk of toxicity from this filler compared with normal implants

But mechanical testing has shown the implant covers have an increased risk of rupturing

The gel inside can be an irritant, increasing the risk of inflammation – making removal more difficult

There is no increased breast cancer risk

One case of a rare form of cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) was recently reported in France

French and US experts suggest there is a small but increased risk of this cancer in women with breast implants in general

He also said he had “nothing” to say to women facing surgery for their removal and that victims had only filed complaints “to make money”.

Excerpts from Mr Mas’s interview have been re-examined by a French magistrate.

The BBC’s Christian Fraser in Paris said he had been “quite arrogant” about what had happened and had not felt any remorse.

In France, 30,000 women have been advised to remove the implants and 2,700 have filed complaints against Mr Mas.

Women in 65 countries – mainly in Latin America and elsewhere in Europe – have received implants made by the company, which closed down in March 2010.

Health officials in Germany, the Czech Republic and Venezuela have advised women to have them removed.

But the medical advice in the UK, where 40,000 are affected, is that there is no need for all the implants to be removed, only those causing problems such as pain or tenderness.

In England, the NHS will only replace them in exceptional circumstances, and the NHS in Wales said it would only do so when it was deemed medically necessary.

Women in Northern Ireland who received PIP implants for health reasons will have them replaced, but the NHS will only remove, not replace, those inserted for cosmetic reasons.

Scotland’s Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said concerned women who had them fitted privately would be offered advice and the option of removal if necessary. There are no records of PIP implants being used by the NHS.

The international police agency Interpol has said Mr Mas is wanted in Costa Rica over a drunk driving charge.

It said the “red notice” over an alleged incident in June 2010 was “totally unconnected” to PIP.